Matthew 11:11 Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

As the Olympics play out this winter in Sochi, Russia, we see the best of the best from each nation compete. We have our favorites, maybe the underdog, someone who has all the heart but lacks experience. We encourage potential, we love to see records broken. We feel lifted up by seeing humanity at its best, even if in defeat.

Paul writes to strive to win the race, to win the prize. It is so ingrained into our human experience to overcome, to conquer, and to be victorious, that we admire winners if not idolize them. Even as Christian we look up to men of God whom have furthered the Kingdom in Christ name?

Did you ever stop to think how that makes those of lesser stature feel? What does it feel like to be passed over because your effort isn’t deemed worthy of selection? Is your self-worth less than what you would like it to be? Have you given up trying? Let me show you the least among all, who is greater than all, and perhaps, just maybe, you can see why Jesus said what He did in Matthew 11:11.

The body of Christ is only compete and His return as King of Kings to come when the last person accepts Him as Lord of that life. When that happens, that last soul will have no time to do anything for the Kingdom because the church age will have come to an end. Knowing what I know about salvation and how people come to Christ, odds are that the last soul will be won to Christ by someone whom that soul can identify with, can connect with, can see themselves joining hands with in Christ.

Do you think that will be a Billy Graham type? I’ll bet it will be someone of low esteem that says, “We aren’t that different. I can love you from right here.”

Be of good cheer.

Leviticus 4:28a Or if his sin, which he hath sinned, come to his knowledge:

In yesterday’s devotional I quoted scripture with a short list of things we should not leave undone. When reading the list, did you breath a sigh of relief because you had those items covered? That’s the funny thing about lists; they are always incomplete. Lists don’t cover everything.

When you go shopping, you make a list of things you want and leave off those things which you cannot afford. If you were to make a list of sins, would you approach the task in the same manner? Forget the list, it will always be incomplete, no matter how long you make it.

Sin is sin when you know it. That doesn’t come from knowledge or experience, it comes from conviction by the Holy Spirit. Perhaps as you read that list yesterday, you saw that it was incomplete as you added your own.

Love is much more demanding than the law. It is also more forgiving. God’s love, which He imparted in you, will ask you to do things the law doesn’t list. No list ever conceived can cover all the acts of love which God ask us to perform. We are His servants, His children, His ministers of reconciliation. His love is boundless.

Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

While this is yet another list, it does not and cannot contain all the acts of love in which the fruit of the spirit is involved. Only God can tell you what to do with that love. No list, just love.